Search Results (30)

Background/Objectives: Adolescent somatic symptoms such as headache, irritability, and sleep difficulties are common and closely tied to adolescent mental health, yet they are typically studied as a single dimension and as individual complaints detached from the psychosocial adversity surrounding the adolescent. Drawing on the nationally representative 2022 Türkiye Child Survey (n = 3523, ages 13–17), we examined whether these symptoms are patterned by the psychosocial risk and support surrounding the adolescent. Methods: Measurement models, multiple correspondence analysis, survey-weighted ordinal regression, a mixed graphical model, and machine-learning algorithms were applied in sequence. Results: Somatic symptoms were organized around a dominant general factor, alongside closely correlated physical and psychological dimensions that showed differential external associations. The three relational microsystems formed a coherent psychosocial adversity gradient along which somatic burden increased. The two dimensions were linked to different factors: peer victimization, a risk factor, and parental support, a protective factor, were associated primarily with psychological burden (odds ratios per standard deviation 1.84 and 0.88), whereas female sex and chronic illness were linked more strongly to physical burden (2.35 and 1.61); body mass index, income strain, and housing problems showed no independent associations. Regression, network, and machine-learning analyses converged on this dissociation while indicating modest individual-level predictability. Conclusions: Adolescent somatic symptoms are thus systematically patterned by psychosocial risk and support at the population level, an association that may inform monitoring and psychosocially informed assessment rather than individual prediction, and that requires longitudinal work to interpret directionally. Full article

Pear ring rot, caused by Botryosphaeria kuwatsukai, is a major threat to pear production. The resistance of four pear F₁ populations to three B. kuwatsukai isolates was evaluated using detached leaf inoculations, assessed by the Area Under the Disease Progress Curve (AUDPC) and average lesion diameter (ADL). Cluster analysis based on these metrics established a five-level resistance rating scale. All hybrid combinations exhibited clear segregation for resistance, with continuous phenotypic variation and coefficients of variation exceeding 50%, suggesting polygenic inheritance. Broad-sense heritability (H²) of lesion diameter, estimated from replicated inoculations using a linear mixed-model approach, ranged from 0.32 to 0.71 across populations and isolates, indicating that the phenotypic variation was largely under genetic control. Genetic model analysis using the SEA v2.0 package identified a two-major-gene additive-dominant (2MG-AD) model as the best fit for the data across all combinations and isolates, with additive effects predominating. Isolate-specific responses were detected in the ‘Doyenne du Comice’ × ‘Huangguan’ population, and reciprocal differences between ‘Zhongai 1’ × ‘Zaosu’ and its reciprocal cross suggested potential cytoplasmic or maternal effects on resistance expression. Collectively, these findings suggest that pear leaf resistance to B. kuwatsukai is consistent with a two-gene additive-dominant model, supported by moderate-to-high heritability estimates. However, independent validation with additional populations and molecular markers is needed. These results highlight the value of multi-isolate screening, appropriate selection of resistant and susceptible parents, and the use of reciprocal crossing in breeding for broad-spectrum and durable resistance. Full article

Parental burnout, characterized by emotional exhaustion and a sense of detachment, is a significant challenge for families of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). While traditional research often focuses on socioeconomic status, this study examines how physical living conditions and household characteristics influence burnout levels in the Turkish context. A relational survey model was conducted with 131 parents of children with ASD. Data were collected via online surveys using a Sociodemographic Data Form and the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI), which was adapted to the parenting role. Multiple linear regression analysis was applied to identify variables predicting total burnout scores. The analysis revealed that most sociodemographic variables, including income, education level, and parental age, did not significantly predict burnout. However, the “number of rooms in the house” was identified as the only statistically significant predictor (p = 0.033). Specifically, as the number of rooms increased, the total burnout scores of parents significantly decreased. The findings suggest that physical living space serves as a critical “spatial resource” and a protective factor against parental burnout. For families of children with ASD, having a private area for self-regulation is more decisive for mental health than economic status alone. Future support strategies should prioritize improving the quality of life through spatial arrangements and respite services. Full article

Background/Objectives: This study explored parents’ perspectives regarding digital media use in children and adolescents with neurodevelopmental disorders (NDs) and examined how these views vary according to family and clinical characteristics. Methods: Data were collected from an Italian survey involving 352 families. Items assessed the perceived effects of digital devices on child development and parenting, awareness of screen time guidelines, and use of time- and content-limiting tools. Quantitative analyses were complemented by a reflexive thematic analysis of open-ended responses describing how digital media influenced parenting. Results: Parents expressed divergent attitudes towards digital media, with broadly similar proportions reporting positive, neutral, and negative views regarding both child development and parenting. More favourable views were associated with greater perceived benefits for children and were more frequent among parents of children with more severe functional disabilities. About half had discussed screen use with health professionals, and most were aware of existing guidelines. Thematic analysis identified six themes related to digital parenting: educational means (digital devices as tools for communication, learning, and socialisation), entertainment (screens as a source of leisure or behavioural management), reward (digital media used as reinforcement), screen time as a “necessity” (technology as an integral and sometimes rehabilitative part of daily life), negative effects on the child (concerns about detachment, reduced social interaction, and mood dysregulation), and parental behaviour and attitudes (reflecting the emotional burden of regulation and broader beliefs about digital media). Conclusions: Parents of children with NDs navigate digital media use through a complex balance of perceived risks and benefits. Findings highlight the need for family-centred guidance and assistive technology approaches that promote digital inclusion while addressing parental stress and regulatory challenges. Full article

The present study examined how parental attachment and cultural background shape love styles in emerging adulthood. Drawing on attachment theory and cross-cultural perspectives, we investigated whether gender, attachment to mother and father, and nationality (Italian vs. Angolan) predicted the development of love styles in 370 young adults. Participants completed validated measures of parental attachment (IPPA) and love attitudes (LAS). Hierarchical regression analyses revealed a differentiated pattern across love styles. Emotionally detached relational styles (Ludus) were significantly predicted by gender, paternal attachment, and nationality, with higher levels reported by men, those with lower paternal attachment, and Angolan participants. While Storge showed no significant associations, passionate love expression (Eros) was robustly predicted by nationality, with Italian participants reporting higher levels of passion in love. Results suggest that while paternal attachment serves as a critical developmental anchor in preventing Ludus, the cultural macrosystem remains the primary architect of Eros. These findings call for culturally attuned clinical and educational interventions that differentiate between early relational deficits and normative cultural variations in intimacy. Full article

This study explores the perspectives of monolingual English-speaking parents whose children are enrolled in elementary (Grades 1–5) French immersion (FI) in New Brunswick, Canada, where FI students learn mathematics in French. Using poetic inquiry within a feminist postmodern framework, we analyzed interview data from three parents to examine how they conceptualize the relationship between language and mathematics, and how these conceptualizations shape the ways they support their children’s mathematics learning. The resulting research poems reveal tensions in participants’ views of mathematics and language. For example, mathematics was at times positioned as detachable from language, although language was simultaneously described as a potential barrier to mathematical success. In turn, parental involvement was characterized by support toward monitoring linguistic markers, relearning pedagogical methods, and rehearsing procedures. By centring parents’ perspectives, this study contributes to research on multilingual mathematics education by illustrating how parental conceptualizations may play a role in shaping mathematics practices across home and school spaces. Methodologically, the study suggests that research poetry has analytic potential for surfacing tensions in parental sense-making that may remain overlooked in more conventional qualitative analyses. This study points to a need for resources and communication practices that support dialogue between schools and families about the relationship between language and mathematics in FI contexts. Full article

Background: This study explores post-traumatic growth (PTG) among parents of childhood cancer survivors (CCSs), a group often underrepresented in research. Method: A convergent parallel mixed-methods design integrating Bayesian Multilevel Latent Class Analysis and Thematic Analysis was utilized in a longitudinal study involving 58 caregivers (50 mothers, 8 fathers) from the Children’s Clinical University Hospital in Riga. Quantitative data were collected at diagnosis using the Psychosocial Assessment Tool (PAT) and Big Five Inventory-10 (BFI-10). Follow-up assessments post-treatment included the Responses to Stress Questionnaire (RSQ), Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R), and the Post-traumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI). Qualitative data were collected through structured interviews. Results: A 2-class model distinguished parents with low PTG from those with moderate to high PTG. Change in values, detachment from trivial stressors, and acceptance of life emerged as key indicators of growth. PTG was not significantly correlated with overall post-traumatic stress symptoms, but engagement coping strategies showed a positive association with PTG and personality traits like extraversion and openness. Conclusions: The mixed methods approach revealed sample-specific PTG elements not reflected in standardized tools. Initial perceptions of the cancer diagnosis shaped psychological outcomes, with PTG facilitated by adaptive coping, self-reflection, support, emotional disclosure, and psychological struggle. This study offers the first insights into PTG among Latvian parents of CCSs, a previously unexplored area. Full article

The necrotrophic pathogen Sclerotinia sclerotiorum is widely distributed and infects a broad range of hosts, making it one of the most economically damaging plant pathogens. This study demonstrated that pyrimethanil, an anilinopyrimidine fungicide, exhibited potent activity against S. sclerotiorum, with EC₅₀ values ranging from 0.411 to 0.610 μg/mL. Four highly pyrimethanil-resistant mutants were obtained through chemical taming, with EC₅₀ values of 7.247 to 24.718 μg/mL. These mutants exhibited significantly reduced mycelial growth, sclerotia production, and pathogenicity compared to their wild-type parental isolates, indicating that pyrimethanil resistance suffered a fitness penalty in S. sclerotiorum. Notably, three mutants (DDJH-Pyri-R1, DDJH-Pyri-R3, and DDJH-Pyri-R4), completely lose the capacity to infect detached tomato leaves. Point mutations that cause amino acid changes in the predicted sequence of cystathione-γ synthase (CGS) and cystathione-β lyase (CBL), encoded by SsCGS1 and SsCGS2, were identified in three mutants. However, one mutant (DDJH-Pyri-R2) showed no mutations in these genes, suggesting an alternative resistance mechanism. Molecular docking revealed that mutations in SsCGS1-R3, SsCGS1-R4, and SsCGS2-R1 reduced the binding affinity between pyrimethanil and SsCGSs. No cross-resistance was observed between pyrimethanil and other commonly used fungicides, including carbendazim, fludioxonil, prochloraz, tebuconazole, pyraclostrobin, boscalid, fluazinam, and cyprodinil. These findings provide valuable insights for designing resistance inhibitors and suggest that pyrimethanil has significant potential for controlling soybean sclerotinia stem rot (SSR) caused by S. sclerotiorum. Full article

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the outcomes and predictive factors of I-125 radioactive plaque therapy for recurrent and refractory retinoblastoma (Rb) cases that failed primary systemic chemotherapy and focal therapies. Methods: A retrospective study of 20 eyes with intraocular Rb treated with I-125 radioactive plaque therapy (Apex dose 45 Gy) from 2013 to 2023 was conducted. Data on tumor characteristics, treatments, and outcomes were collected over a follow-up period of at least one year. Results: There were 11 (55%) males and 8 (40%) patients who had bilateral disease. All 20 treated eyes (100%) showed initial tumor regression, while long-term tumor control and eye salvage were achieved in 14 eyes (70%). Six eyes (30%) experienced uncontrollable tumor recurrence after a mean of 6 months (range: 3–12 months) after plaque therapy. Recurrence included main tumor activity in six eyes and additional resistant vitreous seeds in two of them. Poor predictive factors for eye salvage included Group D at diagnosis (p = 0.044), active vitreous seeds at the time of plaque therapy ((p = 0.045), tumor thickness >5.0 mm (p = 0.045), and tumor base dimension >12 mm (p = 0.023). Post-plaque complications included cataracts in seven eyes (35%), tumor hemorrhage in six eyes (30%), retinal detachment in four eyes (20%), radiation retinopathy in three eyes (15%), and neovascular glaucoma in one eye (5%). Five (83%) of those with tumor hemorrhage had plaque surgery performed within less than 6 months of the last cycle of systemic chemotherapy. At a mean follow-up of 36 months (range: 12–96 months), five eyes (25%) were enucleated, and high-risk pathological features were identified in three eyes, including post-laminar optic nerve infiltration (one eye) and massive choroidal invasion (two eyes). All patients were alive and free of metastasis except one patient (5%) whose parents refused enucleation and came back with extra-scleral extension and bone marrow metastasis and eventually passed away. Conclusions: I-125 radioactive plaque therapy is a valuable salvage treatment for recurrent and refractory retinoblastoma, achieving tumor control and eye salvage in 70% of cases with an acceptable safety profile. However, the observed recurrence rate (30%) at an apex dose of 45 Gy suggests a need for dose optimization and individualized treatment strategies. Identifying high-risk features, such as Group D disease, active vitreous seeds, and larger tumors, is crucial for patient selection and outcome prediction. Future research should explore alternative dosing strategies, combination therapies, and improved predictive models to enhance long-term tumor control while minimizing complications. Full article

Family conflict has been demonstrated as a risk factor impacting children’s mental health and behaviors; however, the mechanisms underlying these connections are unclear. Focusing on 1622 children from low-income families (51.4% boys, 38.3% White, 35.5% Hispanic/Latino, 22.1% African American, 4.1% other), the current study examines the role that maternal depression and parenting behaviors play in the associations between family conflict in early childhood and children’s internalizing and externalizing behaviors in early adolescence. Family conflict was positively associated with maternal depression at age 3 and detached parenting at age 5; however, maternal depression was linked to increased child internalizing and externalizing behaviors, and detached parenting was associated with decreased behavioral outcomes. Maternal depression at age 3 and intrusive parenting at age 5 successively mediated the association between family conflict and child externalizing. Multi-group analysis indicated different indirect paths of parenting behaviors in boys and girls. Specifically, in boys, the indirect effect of detached parenting on the links between family conflict and externalizing and internalizing behaviors was sustained. In girls, maternal depression and intrusive parenting sequentially explained the link between family conflict and externalizing behaviors. The findings highlighted the importance of addressing family well-being and parenting support, especially for children from low-income families. Full article

UM is an aggressive intraocular tumor characterized by high plasticity and a propensity to metastasize in the liver. However, the underlying mechanisms governing liver tropism remain poorly understood. Given the emerging significance of exosomes, we sought to investigate the contribution of UM-derived exosomes to specific steps of the metastatic process. Firstly, we isolated exosomes from UM cells sharing a common genetic background and different metastatic properties. A comparison of protein cargo reveals an overrepresentation of proteins related to cytoskeleton remodeling and actin filament-based movement in exosomes derived from the parental cells that may favor the detachment of cells from the primary site. Secondly, we assessed the role of macrophages in reprogramming the HHSCs by exosomes. The activation of HHSCs triggered a pro-inflammatory and pro-fibrotic environment through cytokine production, upregulation of extracellular matrix molecules, and the activation of signaling pathways. Finally, we found that activated HHSCs promote increased adhesion and migration of UM cells. Our findings shed light on the pivotal role of exosomes in pre-metastatic niche construction in the liver. Full article

Objective: Vertebro-vertebral arteriovenous fistulae (VVFs) are a rare disorder characterized by a direct shunt between the extracranial vertebral artery and the veins of the vertebral venous plexus. This study aims to comprehensively review the characteristics and outcomes of endovascular treatments for VVFs at our center. Methods: A retrospective review was conducted on 14 patients diagnosed with a VVF who underwent endovascular treatment at Siriraj Hospital from January 2000 to January 2023. The study assessed patient demographics, presentation, fistula location, treatment strategies, endovascular techniques employed, and treatment outcomes. Results: Among the 14 patients, 11 (78.6%) were female, with an age range from 25 to 79 years (median: 50 years). Spontaneous VVFs were observed in 64.3% of the cases, including three associated with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF-1). Iatrogenic injury accounted for two cases, and three patients had VVFs resulting from traffic accidents. A pulsatile neck mass and tinnitus, with or without neurological deficits, were common presenting symptoms. Active bleeding was observed in three cases with vascular injury, while unilateral proptosis, congestive heart failure, and incidental findings each presented in one patient. All the VVFs were successfully obliterated without major treatment complications. Parent vessel sacrifice was performed in 85.7% of the cases, while vertebral artery preservation was achieved in the remaining two patients. Embolic materials included detachable balloons, detachable coils, and n-butyl cyanoacrylate (NBCA) glue. All the presenting symptoms showed improvement, and no morbidity or mortality was observed. Conclusions: Endovascular embolization is a feasible and effective approach for achieving complete VVF obliteration with safety. Parent artery sacrifice should not be reluctantly performed, particularly when adequate collateral circulation is demonstrated. Full article

Cognitive job demands are theoretically and empirically associated with sports participation in various ways. Workers may be overwhelmed by stress and fatigue from their workload and therefore refrain from sports activities, but they can also feel the need to use sports as a way to recover and detach from work. The strategy to which workers adhere can depend on workers’ resources that moderate the cognitive job demands and sports participation relationship, such as educational attainment, being a parent, or having worktime and work location control. To test our expectations, we used recent information on sports participation by young working adults from the Netherlands (N = 2032). Using multinomial logistic regression modelling, we found that workers in mentally demanding jobs were more likely to participate in sports more than three times a week. In particular, workers without children reported a higher likelihood of participating in sports more than three times a week when they experienced high cognitive job demands. Among the higher-educated, workers with high cognitive job demands were less likely to participate in sports one to three times a week. We reflect on the academic and policy-related implications of our findings. Full article

This study investigated the influence of social detachment and its associated factors on the prevalence of malnutrition in elderly residents of South Korean cities. We performed secondary analysis using the results of the 2020 Survey of Living Conditions and Welfare Needs of Older Persons in Korea conducted on the elderly population, aged 65 or older, in 969 survey districts, totalling 10,097 people. Hierarchical linear regression modelling was performed to identify the step-by-step influences on the risk for malnutrition. Based on the baseline survey, two-sevenths of elderly people living alone (ELA), one-fifth living with only their spouse (ELS), and one-fortieth living with children (ELC) were classified as at moderate risk of malnutrition, according to the criteria in the NSI (Nutrition Screening Initiative) Checklist. Physical (ΔR² = 0.017 of ELA, ΔR² = 0.026 of ELS, ΔR² = 0.012 of ELC, p < 0.001) and cognitive impairment (ΔR² = 0.002 of ELA, ΔR² = 0.002 of ELS, p < 0.01) appeared to increase the risk for malnutrition in all living arrangements with age. Noticeably, contact with separately living children, as another factor of family social capital, appeared to be associated with a decreased risk for malnutrition in the order of ELA, ELC and ELS, as confirmed in the cross-validated estimates of ΔR² (ΔR² = 0.043 of ELA, ΔR² = 0.01 of ELC, ΔR² = 0.009 of ELS, p < 0.001). Conjugal relationships appeared to be more important than parent-child relations for nutritional care of the elderly population. The demographic of elderly people living alone was the most vulnerable, as two-fifths of the ELA population is at double or triple the risk of malnutrition than those living with a spouse or with children. In all groups, social detachment, excluding conjugal relationships, was found to be a significant underlying determining factor connected to malnutrition in the elderly groups investigated in this study. Full article

Soil sand particles play a crucial role in soil erosion because they are more susceptible to being detached and transported by erosive forces than silt and clay particles. Therefore, in soil erosion assessment and mitigation, it is crucial to model and predict soil sand particles at unsampled locations using appropriate methods. The study was aimed to evaluate the ability of a multivariate approach based on non-stationary geostatistics to merge LiDAR and visible-near infrared (Vis-NIR) diffuse reflectance data with laboratory analyses to produce high-resolution maps of soil sand content. Remotely sensed, high-resolution LiDAR-derived topographic attributes can be used as auxiliary variables to estimate soil textural particle-size fractions. The proposed approach was compared with the commonly used univariate approach of ordinary kriging to evaluate the contribution of auxiliary variables. Soil samples (0–0.20 m depth) were collected at 135 locations within a 139 ha forest catchment with granitic parent material and subordinately alluvial deposits, where soils classified as Typic Xerumbrepts and Ultic Haploxeralf crop out. A number of linear trend models coupled with different auxiliary variables were compared. The best model for predicting sand content was the one with elevation derived from LIDAR data as the only auxiliary variable. Although the improvement in estimation over the univariate model was rather marginal, the proposed approach proved very flexible and scalable to include any type of auxiliary variable. The application of LiDAR data is expected to expand as it allows the high-resolution prediction of soil properties, generally insufficiently sampled, at different spatial scales. Full article